complete English · revision 3419

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380 (Wycliffe)|origins=la complēre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəmˈpliːt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|complet]], [[bor|fro|complet|t=full, complete]] or directly [[bor|la|complētus]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) past participle of [[m|la|compleō|t=to fill up, finish, fulfil]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|com-]], here intensive, and [[m|la|pleō|t=to fill]],^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*pelh₁-|alt=*pele-|t=to fill]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the root of [[full]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Latin complēre also gave [[comply]], [[compliment]] and [[complement]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Perfect in nature, without defect: about 1380, in Wycliffe's writings,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) or the late 14th century, “having no deficiency; finished, ended”.^(Etymonline) Of a period of time, “that has run its full course”, it is from about 1386.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb “to make complete, bring to an end; fulfil” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) about 1390 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) though the OED's first quotation is from 1530.^(OED 1989) Of persons, “fully equipped, accomplished”, it is from 1526,^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) and the old spelling ''compleat'' was revived in imitation of Walton's ''The Compleat Angler''.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) “Realized in its full extent, thorough”, as in ''a complete surprise'', is from 1645.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) In logic and mathematics a complete system is from 1932.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – perfect (Wycliffe).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1386 – of time, run its full course.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1390 – verb, to finish.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1526 – of persons, accomplished.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1645 – thorough, total.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1932 – in logic and mathematics.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having all its necessary parts; [[entire]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Finished; concluded.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Absolute, total: ''a complete stranger''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Skilled, accomplished; thorough.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(botany)'' Of a flower, having sepals, petals, stamens and pistils.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bring to an end; to finish.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To make whole, with all necessary parts.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To fill in a form.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[completely]]

+ * [[completeness]]

+ * [[completive]]

+ * [[completable]]

+ * [[completedness]]

+ * [[completer]]

+ * [[completively]]

+ * [[subcomplete]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[accomplish]]

+ * [[complement]]

+ * [[completion]]

+ * [[comply]]

+ * [[deplete]]

+ * [[replete]]

+ * [[full]]

+ * [[plenty]]

+ * [[compliment]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that ''complete'' is sometimes held to be an absolute term, not to be compared, but that most of its Usage Panel accepts ''the most complete treatment of the subject''.^(AHD) It compares the verb with ''close'', ''end'', ''finish'', ''conclude'' and ''terminate''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}